Thai PM: G-to-G rice sales are legitimate

BANGKOK, October 18 (TNA) - Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has insisted that the government rice sales under its government to government (G-to-G) deals are legitimate. Speaking to reporters Thursday morning at Suvarnabhumi International Airport following her three-day visit to Kuwait for the Asia Cooperation Dialogue Summit, Premier Yingluck said the Council of State already has already confirmed the legitimacy of the rice sales. Yingluck affirmed that the rice-pledging scheme will proceed for the sake of rice farmers, despite an attempt by a group of senators to temporarily suspend the programme. A group of 68 senators has recently petitioned the Constitution Court, seeking its ruling if the G-to-G rice sales require parliamentary approval in accordance with article 190 of the Thai constitution. The prime minister also urged opponents to stop attempting to politicalise the issue. (TNA)